CC Sabathia might no longer be CC Sabathia. Hiroki Kuroda, at age 38, might have grown old fast in the second half of 2013. Ivan Nova? Is he really a long-term front-end option?

The Yankees needed to plug a reliable arm into the starting five, and Tanaka's it. And he should be it for years to come — the Yankees gave him a seven-year commitment for a reason.

2. The answer wasn't out there

The Yankees reportedly haven't been excited about the three big free-agent names out there — Ervin Santana, Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jiminez. And reasonably so. Each expects to command a high-dollar deal with multiple years attached. And each comes with question marks.

Santana: Can he pitch in New York? Garza: Can he stay healthy? Jimenez: Is he worth all that money?

If you're going to gamble, do it with the best odds. Tanaka doesn't just have the highest ceiling, but the Yankees are figuring he's the best of all the arms-for-higher.

3. Playoffs

It wasn't happening with the rotation they had. But say Sabathia's as rejuvenated as he says he feels. Also say Kuroda stays at least solid and Nova's showing his 2014 form. Add the big bats the Yankees signed in the offseason, and it puts them in position to compete with the American League East cream. A Sabathia-Tanaka-Kuroda trifecta has the makings of a scary short-series rotation.

4. Back-end mess

Were the Yankees really going to fill out the rest of their starting rotation with Michael Pineda, David Adams, David Huff, Adam Warren gumbo?

Well, actually, they still might. They don't have a No. 5 starter. But the prospect of handing Pineda, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2011 due to injuries, the fourth spot and letting the rest duke it out must have spooked general manager Brian Cashman.

At least now the Yankees won't enter the season with two guys with fifth-starter limitations.

5. He's a rock star

Yankee Stadium will sell out the first game Tanaka pitches, bet on it. It will be shaking. Fans will forget — for at least a brief period — all about the failures of Kei Igawa and Hideki Irabu.

Plus, the Yankees are MLB's rock star brand. Makes sense to sign Japan's equivalent. After all, the guy's married to a Japanese pop star.